Well there is no doubt about it, fall has settled in. The leaves have been beautiful again this year despite the weather patterns. It seems as though when the leaves are to turn color they do so without our help. I cannot help but think of the story line contained in Bambi. It is a conversation between leaves just before the last one falls from a tree. I often think of that tearful dissertation when I see most of the leaves have fallen to the ground leaving just a few yet to descend.
For me, this has been a busy year. I have been involved in many bicentennial celebrations around the state. In Plymouth, Ohio there were two bicentennial bells. Richland and Huron Counties meet in the square in Plymouth. The Crawford County Park District invited me to work for them on three different occasions. As a result, I was able to teach dozens of young children the facets of living in a developing country hundreds of years ago.
Bicycling has been enjoyable this year. Instead of taking to the open road, I use the many bike trails in Ohio. It is comforting not to worry about cars and possible road rage. Early this month one of my bicycling friends was nearly killed on Richland road when a car driven by a very young person at a high rate of speed came so close to the bicycle that one of the bikes mirrors was smashed. That is way too close.
The City of Mt Vernon has eliminated their streetscape program that took away many of the parking spaces downtown. Trees had become a problem also just like in our downtown. Instead of growing to a certain height, downtown trees in many cities have shot up out of sight blocking street signs and becoming a nuisance. Mt Vernon now has flowerbeds where trees once stood and have reclaimed many of the parking spaces that were taken out as in downtown Marion.
Except around the courthouse years ago, trees were not a part of the downtown. I recall the frustration though when the courthouse sycamore trees were removed making pigeons and starlings search for new homes. Way back in history, police and sheriffs officers took turns shooting pigeons off the statue of Lady Justice. When restored 23 years ago she was full of bullet holes. I suppose a few birds were also shot from the sycamores.
Where did all those sycamore trees come from? Who planted them? Did the same person plant them across from Rocky’s Cyclery and around Etowah? The trees must have been planted in the 1880’s so whoever the planter was will never be known.
Let’s hope that the bridge that will be built over Grave Creek for the high school students will be not only functional, but also decorative. A new footbridge over the Sandusky River in Bucyrus was built two years ago with donated funds. It is a suspension bridge and has drawn a lot of interest.
A new community of condominiums is planned for the east side of Marion Township. Details will be available in the near future.
